Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Pink`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named `Jumbo Misty Pink`, characterized by its upright and spreading growth habit; freely branching plant habit; numerous large inflorescences that when mature have light pink ray florets that fade to white; and erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofBrachycome plant, botanically known as Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid andreferred to by the cultivar name `Jumbo Misty Pink`.

The new Brachycome was discovered by the Inventor in a group of seedlingprogeny from a cross of unidentified selections of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid in an outdoor area in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new Brachycome by terminal cuttings taken ina controlled environment in Wandin North, Victoria, Australia, has shownthat the unique features of this new Brachycome are stable and arereproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Brachycome has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of `Jumbo Misty Pink` anddistinguish `Jumbo Misty Pink` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and spreading growth habit.

2. Freely branching plant habit.

3. Numerous large inflorescences that when mature have light pink rayflorets that fade to white.

4. Erect peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Brachycome, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of atypical potted plant of `Jumbo Misty Pink`.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of typicalinflorescences of `Jumbo Misty Pink`. Floret and foliage colors in thephotographs may appear different from the actual colors due to lightreflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Victoria, Australia, under outdoor conditionswith day temperatures ranging from 12 to 40° C., night temperaturesranging from 6 to 25° C., and light levels ranging from 5,000 to 9,000footcandles. Color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

Botanical classification: Brachycome segmentosa Hybrid cultivar `JumboMisty Pink`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid.

Female or seed parent.--Unidentified selection of Brachycome segmentosaHybrid.

Propagation:

Type.--By cuttings.

Time to initiate and develop roots.--Summer: About 10 to 20 days attemperatures of 25° C. Winter: About 15 to 30 days at temperatures of20° C.

Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and spreading, rounded herbaceous plantwith erect peduncles. Suitable for 15 to 20-cm containers. To produce a15-cm finished flowering plant from rooted cuttings, 10 to 14 weeks arerequired depending on temperature and light level.

Plant height.--About 30 to 50 cm from soil level to top ofinflorescences.

Plant diameter or spread.--About 30 to 50 cm.

Branching.--Freely branching, numerous lateral branches develop afterremoval (pinching) of the terminal apex.

Growth rate/vigor.--Moderate.

Stem description.--Lateral branch length: About 1.5 to 8.5 cm. Lateralbranch diameter: About 1 to 2 mm. Internode length: About 0.3 to 1.6 cm.Texture: Young, slightly pubescent; older, glabrous. Color: 146C withovertones of 200C.

Foliage description.--Arrangement Alternate, single. Quantity: About 13to 34 per lateral branch. Shape: Narrowly spatulate in outline, lobedand sometimes toothed. Apex: Narrowly lobed with each segment usuallyhaving two to three teeth. Base: Sessile, somewhat clasping. Length:About 0.9 to 3.8 cm. Width: About 0.3 to 1.6 cm. Margin: Three tonine-lobed, often lacking teeth. Texture: Young leaves, faint pubescenceon upper midrib; mature leaves, smooth and glabrous. Color: Youngleaves, upper surface: 146A to 147A. Young leaves, lower surface: 146A.Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: 146A to 147A; venation, 144C.Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: 146B; venation, 144B.

Flowering description:

Inflorescence.--Single daisy-type composite inflorescence form. Floretsarranged acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences last on the plantfor about 6 to 12 days and about 7 to 10 days as a fresh cut flower.Self-cleaning.

Natural flowering season.--Natural flowering season is spring to fall;flowering continuous during this period.

Response time.--About 5 to 8 weeks.

Quantity of inflorescences.--About one to three per lateral branch withnumerous inflorescences per plant.

Inflorescence diameter.--About 2.4 to 3.9 cm.

Inflorescence depth (height).--About 1 to 1.2 cm.

Disc diameter.--About 1.5 to 1.7 cm.

Inflorescence aspect.--Flat.

Rate of inflorescence opening.--About 6 to 10 days.

Fragrance.--Very faint, honey-like.

Inflorescence buds.--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 6 mm. Diameter:About 6 mm.

Ray florets.--Quantity: About 21 to 34 florets per inflorescencearranged in one to two rows. Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate. Apex: Blunt,rounded, or dentate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Flat.Length: About 1.2 to 1.8 cm. Width: About 3 to 4 mm. Texture: Smooth,glabrous, thin. Color: When opening, upper surface: 145C becoming darkpink, 186A. When opening, lower surface: 145C with 18C tones becomingdark pink, 186A. Mature, upper surface: 55D, with further development,floret color fades to white, 155D. Mature, lower surface: 56D.

Disc florets.--Shape: Tubular with five lobes. Length: About 3 mm.Width: About 1 mm. Texture: Sparse glandular hairs. Color: Immature:151B. Mature: 145B; lobes, 2B. Number of disc florets per inflorescence:Numerous.

Peduncle.--Length: About 4.6 to 14.5 cm. Strength: Initially somewhatflexible becoming fairly rigid; erect. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:137C.

Involucral bracts.--Arrangement: Imbricate. Quantity: About 15 to 21 perinflorescence. Shape: Broadly oblong. Apex: Fringed. Margin: Entire tofaintly fringed. Texture: Somewhat fleshy. Color: 138A with reddishapex, 186A.

Androecium.--Only present on disc florets. Stamen number: Five per discfloret. Anther shape: Oblong to linear. Anther color: 163C. Amount ofpollen: Scarce. Pollen color: 13B.

Gynoecium.--Pistil number: One per floret. Stigma shape: Bilobate. Stylelength: About 3 mm. Style color: 151A. Stigma color: 151A.

Disease resistance: May be susceptible to Botrytis and fungal leaf spotdiseases.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Brachycome plant named`Jumbo Misty Pink`, as illustrated and described.